Precipitating apparatus.



H. R. CONKLIN.

PRECIPI'TATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1915.

1,16Ufi5U. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

iwr intros.

HARRY It. CON 'KLIN, 0F J'OPLIN, MISSOURI.

PRECIPITATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. is, rare.

Original application filed April 7, 1915, Serial No. 19,823. Divided and this application filed June 26, 1915.

Serial No.36,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY R. CoNKLiN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at, Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Precipitating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, which is a division of my application Serial Number 19,823, filed. April 7, 1915.

My invention relates to apparatus for forming precipitates from solutions containing metals by means of moving pieces of a solid precipitant, the apparatus being so constructed as to move all the solution successively past all the pieces of precipitant in succession, said pieces preferably moving in succession counter to the flow of liquid to be precipitated.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to pass a cyanid solution containing gold and silver through a tube mill containing zinc balls or zinc balls in connection with a Zinc lining, or to pass such a solution successively through a series of boxes or tanks containing zinc shavings and that it has also been proposed to supply finely comminuted zinc to the solutions which is carried along with the solution to settling tanks or filter presses where the precipitate is separated.

There is great objection from a practical standpoint to the use of a tubemill for the reason that there is a great deal of attrition, whereby particles of zinc are ground off and flow with the solution and precipitate, in suspension, to the filter, the precipitate containing considerable zinc and zinc oXid which requires removal to obtain good bullion.

The same objection applies to zinc shavings, the smaller particles of the shavings resulting from the continuous dissolving action of the solution, fall into the precipitate sludge and remain undissolved so that the sludge will have to be subjected to some treatment for the removal of zinc.

In using zinc dust there is considerable accumulation of zinc oXid as well as metal in the precipitate so that the removal of Zinc again comes into question.

I have succeeded in eliminating metallic precipitant or its OXlCl, especially zinc or zinc oXid from the precipitate by causing the precipitant or pieces of the precipitant of considerable size to move in succession through the solution to be precipitated. I thus simplify present practice considerably, because no Zinc metal is mixed with the precipitate and no special precautions have to be taken to exclude air from the precipitated solution after precipitation. I proceed preferably by using the precipitant'in the form of solid round pieces or substantially such as cylinders or balls, and roll them through the solution, preferably through a counter current of the solution; these cylinders or balls preferably traveling in a closed circuit. The advantage of this is that there is little or no attrition or mechanical action on the moving pieces of precipitant to produce fines that may be entrained with the precipitate in the solution, and they are self clearing of the precipitate; the precipitate being removed preferably, but not necessarily from the field of action of the pieces of precipitant at or near the beginning of the advance portion of the circuit in which these pieces move. I prefer, however, to remove the pre cipitate from the path of movement of the pieces of precipitant by means of the flow of the solution. Another advantage is that when these pieces become so small that they cannot well be circulated in their circuit they collect at the head or beginning of the current or flow of solution where the chemical action is most energetic and become dissolved, any precipitate formed by them being entrained by the current to the point of discharge of the solution.

The precipitate can be separated from the spent solution in any well known manner.

A suitable apparatus for carrying out the process above described is shown inthe accompan ing drawings in which like parts are similarly designated and in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, parts thereof being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus shown is rotatable and is preferably mounted in an inclined position to facilitate the fiow of solution through it,

and is provided with suitable I rotating means.

1 provide a central lengitiidin'a'l pipe *1 whose lower end is screwed into or otherwise connected to a casting? that is provided with a central tube 3 in alinement with and forining an 'extension'olf the pipe 1. This-tube is preferably integral "with the tube 1 as shown. This tube is provided "with a suitable liquid outlet l. The lower end of the portion 3 extends nearly to the reduced tubulanend 2 of the castihg or discharge chamber 2 into the lower end of which is fastened a short pipe 5 closed by a remov- The pipe 1, We, ledllc ed portion 2 er the'na'stingQ, and pipe 5, form a straight continuous passage or duct for the solid precl'pit'ant that connects at its lower end,

namely, 'the end of the short pipe section 5, with a worm 'or pipespira'l 71 surrounding the aforesaid straight pipe and preferably concentric with it. This spiral 7 connn'uni- 'c'ates at 'its'upper end withe'n inlet chamhers, which surrounds the upper pertien of pipe 1 "and has an internal continuous rib '9 forming a continuation of the pipe 's'piral, preferably of the same pitch. The spiral "rib terminates-at the-upper end of the inlet eharnhr 8 in a short spiral pipe 10 eonhectwith the pipe 1.

The inlet'charnber 8 which is preferably cylindrical, has sechred' thereton *b'ev'el wheel '11 driven by a bevel pinio'n '12 on "a vertical shaft '13. Theshaft 13 has 'iv'orin wheel suitable source "of power.

.Thehub of the bevel wheel 11 rests on rollers 16 mounted in a bearing "member 17 *seatedinh frame'member 18 "forming a portion-of the cas'tingor pedestal 19. The rollere and their be'aringmernber 17*ar'e locked in position in 'the frame member '18 by a ring 2O.

The flower end" ofth'e worm pipe 7 is provide'd with casting 21 'having"acylindrical bearing "21 n1ovable' on 'rGllers-QQ, and a thrust bearing 21" supported eh rollers 23.

TherOllersQQ andQ-EB are mounted in'a suitable support 24'.

. The casting '2 is provided with a chamber 2 surrounding the tube '3. From "the upper "end of the chamber 2 extends a discharge pipe'25. In useythis pipe willdis- "charge into any suitable receptacle as a tank T.

The hpper endof'the'inlelt chamber 8 is preferably but not "necessarily, reduced 'in eress 'eeeh'eh asat 26 which preferably has fa "c los'edfbott om 27 provided WltllplpS '28 "for carrying *the solution *beyond the spiral pipe 10 into thechambenS. The spiral 'or "worm pipe 7 and chaniber 8"are provided with a soli-d precipitant inthe :Eorm' ofpieces The operation is as followsz Pieces of solid precipitant preferably, but not necessarily 'z'in'cpr alumiii'nin balls 29 are introduced into the upper end of the pipe 1, and pass tl ir on ghth e entire central conduit or pipe 1 into the lower turn of the worm pipe 7. Upon slowly rotating the machine -in the proper direction, the balls 29 travel to the upper end of the spiral pipe 7 and discharge onto the continuous spiral rib 9. The supply of balls iscontinueduntil'balls begin to feed through I the short spiral pipe l'O'hack into the pipe '1 again. Solution to :be precipitated is "then supplied continiiously through a pipe indicated "at N to the portion "26, passes through the short pipes '28, be-

yond the pipe '10, into the chamber 8, spiral 7,s'hort"-s'ection of pip'e 5,clni1nber-2 ofc'nstiIi'g'Q "and"discharge pipe h tothe tank T.

The ballsforpieces ofiprecipitant 29 travel gco'unterto the solution over a very long path.

When the balls have been dissolved to such an extent by the solution, that they will not travelortransfer into 'the'pipe 10, they re nra-in in the chamber 8 andthere the most intense dissolving action takes place, due to the action of fresh solution. When the pieces become so smallthat they cannot overconle the flow of 'the solution 'and "are conipelled'totravel withitgthey then pass with the solution into the spiral pipe and are caught by the advancing balls therein and 'becoin edi ssolved. Thuslt will'be seenthat the :pieces of precipitant are advanced withoutany grindiiig'action on them; that the small pieces and fines are all advanced to the upper inlet'end of the machine, and small forming a-closed circuit for/pieces of solid 'preclpitant'and having an advancing and'a return 'portion,'1neans r'onpassin'g a counter current of a solution containing a substance capable ofibei'ng precipitated "by said precipita'nt and :a collector for the pieces too small 'for mechanical transfer to the return portion of said circuit, said. collector 'arranged at-a point between said advancing and return P01110115.

"2. Apparatus for precipitating substances from solutions, which coinprises'nieans forming a closed circuit for moving solid pi'ece's ofy-a precipitant and having an advancing and return iportion, means for supplying a SOlLllilOIlOf'it' substance capable (if being preci-pita-t'ed over said pieces and conntentliere- 'to,"n1eansfor transferring the pieces from the r solution at the end of said advancing portion and delivering them "to said return .portin'and collecting 11163118 for the pieces too small for mechanical transfer arranged at the beginning of said counter current.

3. Apparatus for precipitating substances from solutions, which comprises means forming a closed circuit for'moving solid pieces of a precipitant and having an advancing and a return portion, means for supplying a solution of a substance capable of being precipitated over said pieces and counter thereto, means for mechanically transferring the pieces from the solution at the end of said advancing portion and delivering them to said return portion, collecting means for the pieces too small for mechanical transfer at the beginning of said counter current, and means for discharging the precipitate from the path of movement of the pieces near the beginning of said advancing portion.

4. In a precipitating apparatus, in combination a conduit having a spiral continuation parallel therewith, means to supply solution to be precipitated to said spiral continuation, and means to transfer solid precipitant from the end of said spiral continuation to said conduit, liquid discharge means for said spiral continuation, and means to rotate the combination.

5. In a precipitation apparatus in combination, a conduit having a spiral continuation substantially parallel therewith, means near the inlet of the conduit to transfer pieces of precipitant from said spiral continuation to said conduit, means near said transfer means to supply solution to be precipitated to said spiral, liquid discharge means arranged to discharge spent solution and precipitate, and means to rotate the combination.

6. In a precipitation apparatus, in combination a substantially straight conduit having a concentric spiral continuation, means to transfer solid precipitant from the end of the spiral continuation to said straight conduit, means below said transfer means to supply solution to be precipitated to the spiral, liquid discharge means between said straight and spiral portions, and mechanism to rotate the combination.

7. In a precipitating apparatus in combi nation, a substantially straight pipe, a concentric spiral continuation thereof, a chamber for the solution to be precipitated concentric with said straight pipe and communicating with said spiral, mechanism in said chamber to transfer pieces of solid precipitant from said spiral to said straight pipe, liquid discharge means at the end of said straight pipe, and mechanism to rotate the combination.

8. In a precipitating apparatus, in combination a substantially straight inclined pipe, a spiral continuation surrounding said pipe, a chamber for the solution to be precipitated surrounding said straight pipe communi cates with said spiral at the discharge end of the latter, means in said chamber to transfer solid precipitant from said spiral to said straight pipe, liquid discharge means arranged to discharge spent solution, and means to rotate said combination.

9. In a precipitating apparatus, the combination with a substantially straight inclined pipe, a discharge chamber connected to the lower end thereof, a spiral pipe surrounding said straight pipe and connected to said discharge chamber for the solution to be precipitated, a chamber surrounding the straight pipe and communicates with said spiral pipe, a spiral rib in said chamber forming a continuation of said spiral pipe, and means in said chamber connected to said straight pipe to guide pieces from said rib to said straight pipe, and means to rotate the combination.

10. In a precipitating apparatus the combination, with a substantially straight inclined pipe, a discharge chamber connected to the lower end of said pipe, a spiral pipe concentric With said straight pipe and chamber connected to said chamber for the solution to be precipitated, a chamber surrounding the upper portion of said straight pipe and communicates with said spiral pipe, a spiral rib in said chamber forming a continuation of said spiral pipe, a short spiral pipe rigidly connected to the straight pipe. near its upper end and arranged to receive solids from said rib, a discharge pipe connected to said discharge chamber at a point above the extreme end of said straight pipe, and means to rotate the combination.

11. In a precipitating apparatus, in combination, a substantially straight inclined pipe, a spiral pipe surrounding the same, a discharge chamberforming a connection be tween the two pipes, a chamber at the upper end of said straight pipe in which said spiral pipe terminates, means in said chamber to transfer solid pieces from said spiral pipe to said straight pipe, a liquid inlet for said chamber having one or more short pipes discharging into said chamber at a point below its top and means to rotate the combination. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY R. CONKLIN Witnesses H. A. FISCHER, H. M. RAMSEY, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

